Staff Reports
In a move that could only be described as masterful evasion, Vice President Kamala Harris has managed to go a full 17 days since announcing her presidential bid without so much as a single interview or press conference. This absence from the public eye raises questions: Is she perfecting the art of “political ghosting,” or is this a new strategy of campaign stealth? Amid the political circus, it seems Harris has opted for a minimalistic approach to communication—much to the consternation of Republicans who can’t help but poke fun at her “basement” strategy, reminiscent of Joe Biden’s pandemic-induced hiding act during the last election.
While the Vice President has delivered a handful of speeches, they might as well be scripted by a tape recorder. After all, one might think her campaign headquarters is a “repeat after me” zone, with Harris speaking on repeat to party loyalists in increasingly familiar venues, including a stop in Philadelphia where she introduced her running mate Tim Walz. It’s hard to tell if audience members were applauding her insights or merely awaiting the next outing of the same tired lines.
Hidin’ Harris: No Interview in 17 Days Since Joining Race
Vice President Kamala Harris has not given one interview or press conference to the media in the 17 days since she joined the presidential race.https://t.co/J2r4S1UY3i
— Trump2024_no_matter_what (@TexasTrump2024) August 7, 2024
In her rare off-script moments—like that time at Andrews Air Force Base where she and President Biden welcomed home American prisoners from Russia—Harris managed to string together a series of intangible buzzwords regarding diplomacy that left many scratching their heads. The Vice President waxed poetic about the “importance of having a president who understands the power of diplomacy.” It’s a phrase that sounds great at a cocktail party but seems hollow on the campaign trail, particularly when no one seems to know what that really means in terms of policies.
Frustration among Republican circles is palpable. Media coverage of Harris’s candidacy has been nothing short of a love fest, with journalists ignoring the glaring absence of concrete policies on her campaign website. It’s almost as if they expect voters to swoon at her charm rather than critically analyze her ideas—or lack thereof. Critics are left to wonder if the press is afraid to ask the hard questions or if they are simply enamored with the idea of a female candidate who doodles in her diary while hoping her popularity carries her to the Oval Office.
The political theater is in full swing, and Harris’s avoidance strategy seems to be working—for now. However, as the campaign heats up, voters may start to demand more than just fluff and fancy phrases. So far, the Harris campaign has managed to float by on charisma and mentions of “diplomacy,” but as the days tick down to the election, that strategy is likely to have its limitations. Whether she can step out from the shadows and engage directly with voters remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the political circus is just getting warmed up.
